Positioned as the valve supplier for the world’s leading automobile brands, and as the largest engine valve manufacturer in Turkey with the widest product range, Supsan continued to move forward in the 2020 operating period, which coincided with its 50th anniversary. In a year overshadowed by COVID-19, Supsan continued production processes without interruption due to measures taken to safeguard the health of employees during the pandemic. Despite the difficulties faced in the period, Supsan maintained its visionary strategies for the future and invested in the serial production of Turkey’s first sodium-filled Hollow engine valves.

Strategic Positioning
Operating as a Borusan Holding company, Supsan carries out distinctive business processes thanks to the following competitive advantages:

• Turkey’s largest manufacturer of engine valves,
• The widest range of engine valves,
• Executor of the most advanced, technological methods in engine valve production,
• The first plant with serial sodium valve production capability in Turkey, keeping abreast of technology developments in engine valves,
• Leader of the domestic Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and spare parts market,
• Capability to reach more customers in turbocharger production every year, • A corporate strategy focused on meeting the needs of the automotive spare parts market,
• Efforts to become a sensitive parts manufacturer in automotive sector, • Project activities linked with process digitalization and robotic practices under Industry 4.0.,
• Capability to manufacture any type of valve,
• The only brand that commenced turbocharger production in addition to valve-only production activities and the brand with the widest product range in automotive parts,
• An infrastructure that meets all the expectations of OEM customers with IATF 16949, OHSAS 18001, ISO 14001, and Ford Q1 certificates,
• Solid know-how owing to its place among the top 250 companies with the highest R&D spending,
• Engine testing infrastructure.

Supsan Ranks among the Top 250 Companies with the Highest R&D Spending
Due to its R&D investments during the year, Supsan ranked among the top 250 companies with the highest R&D spending according to the survey “R&D 250: Companies with the Highest R&D Spending in Turkey.” The Company continued R&D and digitalization investments despite the COVID-19 pandemic and spent a total of TL 5 million for 13 R&D and digitalization projects during the 2020 operating period. Of these 13 projects, six involved product development, two involved process development, and five involved Industry 4.0 and digitalization. Four projects were finalized in 2020.

Supsan acquired a comprehensive Computer-Assisted Engineering (CAE) software infrastructure, which positioned the Company as an engineering service provider for OEM clients. Capabilities of the existing engine testing room were enhanced; as a result, Supsan became further equipped to undertake more comprehensive engine tests. Capabilities regarding testing processes under product development and R&D projects were also improved. Supsan automated numerous processes through the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) software included in digitalization efforts.

An important project for Supsan is the “Hollow Valve Design and Production” project, a joint project with a leading OEM producer supported by TÜBİTAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey). The design and prototype production under this project have been completed, and testing of these sodium filled hollow valves has started.

From Engine Valve Manufacturer to Engineering Solution Partner
Supsan has utilized the most advanced technologies since its founding. With its engineering infrastructure established in recent years, the Company now provides support to OEM clients as an Engineering Solution Partner in next-gen engine projects. An important project for Supsan is the “Hollow Valve Design and Production” project, a joint project with a leading OEM producer supported by TÜBİTAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey). The design and prototype production under this project have been completed, and testing of these sodium-filled hollow valves has started. Another project supported by TÜBİTAK is underway through CAE activities aimed at boosting energy efficiency in heat treatment processes. “Turbocharger Design Tool Development” is another important project conducted by Supsan. Under this project, a software program was developed that enabled a turbocharger design from scratch so as to match the characteristics of the engine owned by OEM clients. Relevant works were performed as part of a Ph.D. dissertation. Regarding Industry 4.0 activities, the “Data Collection System Development” project was carried out. As a result, a system was installed that collects data and monitors the status of the units within auxiliary facilities that are critical to the functioning of the plant. This system was aimed at proactively diagnosing failures. In innovation activities, the focus was on potential new products and business models for Supsan. Evaluations were made regarding new products, and business models were either developed internally or proposed by customers.

Firm Steps Towards Sustainability and Digitalization
In an effort to move its corporate structure to the future, Supsan continued to take successful steps towards sustainability and digitalization in 2020.

• Supsan identified certain areas under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and adapted them to its strategy to more effectively assess the progress achieved towards sustainability and the results of this progress.
• Systematic works are performed to reduce waste and address the opportunities linked with the circular economy. In this respect, economic benefits were gained in 2020 by recovering the metals inside the waste that form on the central filters of cutting and cooling oil.
• Efforts towards reduced carbon emissions continued; two R&D projects on energy efficiency were completed, and one R&D project continued.
• Upon the request of a leading domestic OEM client, a Corporate Social Responsibility assessment was completed on the Ecovadis platform; as a result, the Company was granted a “Gold Medal” for its sustainability approach.
• In 2020, findings obtained from the annual Employee Engagement Survey were above the average rates in the sector both in Turkey and around the world, again demonstrating the Company’s success and the importance it attaches to employees.
• Action plans have been formulated to implement the “Green Plant” concept in new enterprises, which places sustainability at the heart of all activities related to new investment projects.

Supsan took the following steps towards digital transformation:

• Five Industry 4.0 and Digitalization projects were carried out in 2020 to minimize potential failures and errors in production and internal processes, achieve time savings, and prevent financial losses that might arise from such failures/errors.
• In Industry 4.0 activities, a “Data Collection System Development” project was carried out. As a result, a system was installed that collected data and monitored the status of the units within auxiliary facilities that are critical to the functioning of the plant.
• The incorporation of an RPA software program was the highlight development of Supsan’s digitalization drive. The software program rapidly automates routine and time-consuming processes that do not require human intervention.

Measures Taken Against the COVID-19 Pandemic
Supsan executed several projects to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and guarantee the continuity of production.

• Facial masks and protective shields were distributed to all employees.
• Employees’ temperatures are checked before each shift, during the lunch break, and prior to the use of shuttles.
• The capacity of shuttles was cut by 50% in a manner to ensure social distancing for each employee, and the seating was logged in the shuttle seating plan on a weekly basis.
• End times for each shift were adjusted to ensure that only a designated number of people use the changing room at a given time.
• Changing rooms were regularly ventilated, and all the areas and working sites within the plant were disinfected weekly.
• White-collar employees shifted to the partial remote work system.
• Employees who are included in a risk group per the workplace doctor’s opinion do not come to the physical working space.
• Adjustments were made in break times to limit the number of employees taking a break.
• Coffee machines and water fountains were turned off and water distributed to each production line and office in closed bottles.
• Checks were performed throughout the day to ensure that necessary measures are taken if the healthcare unit professionals find a risk factor in an employee and that the employee is redirected to the contracted hospital for testing.
• Mealtimes were re-adjusted. The number of employees who can be present at the cafeteria at the same time was halved. The location of tables was altered to provide the social distance required. Adjustments were made to allow only two people to sit at each table, and tables were divided into two sections with separators. Tables used by employees have been logged into the seating schedule on a weekly basis.
• Foods and beverages in common places, e.g. salads, water, spices, at the cafeteria were removed and distributed to employees in disposable packages.
• Markings were placed as reminders of social distancing rules in the cafeteria, changing rooms, infirmary, production card scanning areas, and offices.
• Overseas and domestic travel was postponed, and employees who returned from trips quarantined for 14 days.
• Meetings, courses, or project presentations are now held solely on online platforms.
• Decisions passed by the Ministry of Health are monitored continuously, and the Company complies with each decision taken.
• Risk analyses and an emergency plan have been prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic as per applicable laws. Drills were conducted for emergencies; shortcomings, as identified in these drills, were remedied promptly.

A Pioneer of Corporate Social Responsibility Projects
In 2020, Supsan undertook numerous corporate social responsibility projects, serving as a model for its stakeholders as an exemplary corporate citizen. The Company executed the following projects in the 2020 operating period:

• Protective shield support to healthcare workers,
• TEGV Sponsorship at the Lego Robot Tournament and the team being granted the best presentation award,
• Adopting blind cats,
• Support for the Plastic Lid Collection project of TOFD.

A Look into the Future
Supsan will continue operations in parallel with its vision of becoming a preferred destination in and outside Turkey for the engineering, production, and supply of precision machined parts for new technologies. Other than engine valves, the Company aims to identify customers’ requirements for precision machined parts and undertake efforts to become a supplier of these parts. In addition, Supsan has targeted supplying turbocharger product, which has been sold on the aftermarket since 2014, for the Original Equipment Manufacturers. It will continue its activities geared towards this goal. Another aim is to continue efforts to boost the market share of aftermarket products.